A joint investigation by BBC Russian Service and Mediazona has confirmed the names of 241,088 Russian military personnel killed since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The journalists estimate the actual death toll is far higher, between 438,000 and 536,000, based on statistical modeling of unconfirmed losses. The figures, published on August 22, 2026, paint a picture of a war consuming manpower at an accelerating rate.
Volunteers and Older Recruits Bear the Heaviest Losses
More than half of those identified as killed – 56% – were volunteers, mobilized soldiers, and prisoners who signed military contracts in penal colonies. Volunteers alone account for 36% of all confirmed deaths, numbering 88,598. The share of killed prisoners has fallen to 11%, while mobilized personnel make up roughly 8% of identified fatalities.
The average age of identified Russian servicemen killed has reached 38 years, a dramatic increase of 13 years compared to the first months of the war. Among recently signed-up volunteers, men aged 42 to 45 are most frequently killed. Some 2,776 identified victims were over 60 years old.
Regional Hotspots and Officer Losses
Bashkortostan and Tatarstan remain the Russian regions with the highest number of confirmed fatalities. Authorities in Bashkortostan alone reported 10,960 servicemen from the region killed. Motorized rifle troops suffered the heaviest losses among contract soldiers, with 31,167 identified dead, followed by 5,475 airborne troops and 3,650 tank crew members.
At least 7,642 Russian officers have been killed since the invasion began, of whom 77% were junior-level commanders. The high officer attrition rate suggests continued difficulties in maintaining command and control at the tactical level.
The total breakdown of identified deaths by category stands at: 88,598 volunteers; 48,950 contract soldiers; 26,535 prisoners; 19,853 mobilized soldiers; 2,900 private military company personnel; and 54,252 whose category could not be determined.
Sources: BBC Russian Service; Mediazona; General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
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